Santa Maria Maggiore

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The '''Basilica of Saint Mary the Great''' ({{IPA|it|ˈsanta maˈriːa madˈdʒoːre}}),{{efn|The church is also referred to as {{lang|it|Santa Maria delle Nevi, Santa Maria Maggiore}}, from the Latin {{lang|la|Sancta Maria ad Nives}}, literally 'Saint Mary of the Snows'.}} also informally known as the '''Basilica of Saint Mary Major''',{{efn|{{langx|it|Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore}}; {{langx|la|Basilica Sanctae Mariae Maioris}} or {{lang|la|Basilica Sanctae Mariae ad Nives}}. The official name seems to vary: the [[Holy See Press Office]] uses "'''Papal Liberian Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome'''" in English [https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_law_bf_en.html in a 2011 note] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303044547/https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_law_bf_en.html |date=3 March 2013 }}, while the [https://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/sm_maggiore/en/vita_liturgica/informazioni.htm official Vatican site for the Basilica] uses various formulas not including "Liberian" or {{lang|it|Liberiana}}, some under a coat of arms that includes {{lang|it|basilica Liberiana}} in Italian.}} is one of the four [[Basilicas in the Catholic Church#Major and papal basilicas|major papal basilicas]] and one of the [[Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome]]. The largest [[Catholic Marian church buildings|Marian church]] in Rome, it is regarded as the first [[Marian sanctuary]] in the [[Western world]] and the mothership of all Marian shrines.{{cite web|url=https://www.osservatoreromano.va/it/news/2023-08/quo-180/un-santuario-che-irradia-la-presenza-di-maria.html|title=Un santuario che irradia la presenza di Maria|trans-title=A sanctuary that radiates the presence of Mary|publisher=[[L'Osservatore Romano]]|date=5 August 2023|language=it}}

The '''Basilica of Saint Mary the Great''' ({{IPA|it|ˈsanta maˈriːa madˈdʒoːre}}),{{efn|The church is also referred to as {{lang|it|Santa Maria delle Nevi, Santa Maria Maggiore}}, from the Latin {{lang|la|Sancta Maria ad Nives}}, literally 'Saint Mary of the Snows'.}} also informally known as the '''Basilica of Saint Mary Major''',{{efn|{{langx|it|Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore}}; {{langx|la|Basilica Sanctae Mariae Maioris}} or {{lang|la|Basilica Sanctae Mariae ad Nives}}. The official name seems to vary: the [[Holy See Press Office]] uses "'''Papal Liberian Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome'''" in English [https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_law_bf_en.html in a 2011 note] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303044547/https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_law_bf_en.html |date=3 March 2013 }}, while the [https://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/sm_maggiore/en/vita_liturgica/informazioni.htm official Vatican site for the Basilica] uses various formulas not including "Liberian" or {{lang|it|Liberiana}}, some under a coat of arms that includes {{lang|it|basilica Liberiana}} in Italian.}} is one of the four [[Basilicas in the Catholic Church#Major and papal basilicas|major papal basilicas]] and one of the [[Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome]]. The largest [[Catholic Marian church buildings|Marian church]] in Rome, it is regarded as the first [[Marian sanctuary]] in the [[Western world]] and the mothership of all Marian shrines.{{cite web|url=https://www.osservatoreromano.va/it/news/2023-08/quo-180/un-santuario-che-irradia-la-presenza-di-maria.html|title=Un santuario che irradia la presenza di Maria|trans-title=A sanctuary that radiates the presence of Mary|publisher=[[L'Osservatore Romano]]|date=5 August 2023|language=it}} The shrine is dedicated to the [[Blessed Virgin Mary]] under the title of ''Our Lady of the Snow''.

The Papal basilica is located in [[Esquilino (rione of Rome)|Esquilino]], the 15th [[Rioni of Rome|rione]] (administrative district) of Rome, on the [[Piazza dell'Esquilino]]. Pursuant to the [[Lateran Treaty]] of 1929 between the [[Holy See]] and [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]], the basilica is in Italy and not [[Vatican City]].Lateran Treaty of 1929, Article 15 ([http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/dam/vaticanstate/documenti/leggi-e-decreti/Normative-Penali-e-Amministrative/LateranTreaty.pdf]) However, as a property of the Holy See, Italy is obliged to protect its ownershipLateran Treaty of 1929, Article 13 ([http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/dam/vaticanstate/documenti/leggi-e-decreti/Normative-Penali-e-Amministrative/LateranTreaty.pdf]) and to concede to it "the immunity granted by international law to the headquarters of the diplomatic agents of foreign states". The complex of buildings therefore has a status somewhat similar to an embassy.

The Papal basilica is located in [[Esquilino (rione of Rome)|Esquilino]], the 15th [[Rioni of Rome|rione]] (administrative district) of Rome, on the [[Piazza dell'Esquilino]]. Pursuant to the [[Lateran Treaty]] of 1929 between the [[Holy See]] and [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]], the basilica is in Italy and not [[Vatican City]].Lateran Treaty of 1929, Article 15 ([http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/dam/vaticanstate/documenti/leggi-e-decreti/Normative-Penali-e-Amministrative/LateranTreaty.pdf]) However, as a property of the Holy See, Italy is obliged to protect its ownershipLateran Treaty of 1929, Article 13 ([http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/dam/vaticanstate/documenti/leggi-e-decreti/Normative-Penali-e-Amministrative/LateranTreaty.pdf]) and to concede to it "the immunity granted by international law to the headquarters of the diplomatic agents of foreign states". The complex of buildings therefore has a status somewhat similar to an embassy.

The basilica enshrines the venerated image of {{lang|la|[[Salus Populi Romani]]}}, depicting the [[Blessed Virgin Mary]] as the health and protector of the Roman people, which was granted a [[canonical coronation]] by [[Pope Gregory XVI]] in 1838.Gregorii XVI, Papam. Litteræ Apostolicæ: ''Cælestis Regina Maxima Virginum Mariæ Sanctissima Dei Genetrix'', CLXXXIII [[Vatican Secret Archives]], Actas Gregorii XVI Papae, p. 271.

The basilica enshrines the venerated image of {{lang|la|[[Salus Populi Romani]]}}, depicting the [[Madonna and Child]] as the health and protector of the Roman people, which was granted a [[canonical coronation]] by the Papal bull ''Cælestis Regina Maxima'' decreed by [[Pope Gregory XVI]] in 1838.Gregorii XVI, Papam. Litteræ Apostolicæ: ''Cælestis Regina Maxima Virginum Mariæ Sanctissima Dei Genetrix'', CLXXXIII [[Vatican Secret Archives]], Actas Gregorii XVI Papae, p. 271.

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